Affordable apartments, pool to make a splash in Emmitsburg

The Homes for America plan to build affordable apartments in Emmitsburg for senior citizens is still on schedule to break ground in February, company representatives told town commissioners Monday.

Emmitsburg commissioners gave the necessary nod to a resolution of support for the project and its state financing component. Homes for America is spending $1.3 million to buy property from the Daughters of Charity and surrounding land for the project.

The congregation is selling a 48,000- square- foot wing of the Daughters’ St. Joseph’s Provincial House to Homes for America to develop 31 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom apartments. Five apartments would be handicap accessible.

Kathy Ebner, Homes for America development director, said Monday the town’s resolution was a state requirement in order to secure financing. Homes for America expects to close on the sale and start construction in February, she said.

She said she looked forward to having a celebration at groundbreaking in a few months.

Pool to make splash on time

The town commissioners were relieved to hear that the splash park at the community pool should be ready for opening on Memorial Day.

Instead of the old wading pool, youngsters will have a mushroom-type sprinkler that sprays water from six hoses. The $68,741 project includes about $45,000 in grant money and will replace an inoperable wading pool.

Mark Wilkinson, Paddock Swimming Pool Co. company president, had hoped construction could have started sooner, but “a somewhat difficult permit process” delayed the plans, he said. He told commissioners Paddock needs just 50 working days to get the job done.